This application note describes how to perform Dynamic Reconfiguration operations on VCS clustered system domains of the Oracle ^TM servers.

The dynamic reconfiguration operations typically include configuring and unconfiguring CPU/memory boards to and from domains and configuring and unconfiguring I/O boards in a domain. These operations allow switching boards from one domain to another or permit removing a board or card to upgrade or replace it. Dynamic reconfiguration operations can be performed while the operating environment continues to run.

However, a dynamic reconfiguration operation performed on a CPU/memory board that has permanent memory requires that the system domain be temporarily suspended. In this case, VCS must be stopped. Do not use the following procedures to dynamically reconfigure a system board containing a VCS private heartbeat link. If you need to do so, you must stop VCS before proceeding.

For a dynamic reconfiguration operation performed on an I/O board, ensure that all devices that are in use and belong to the I/O board are released, i.e., they are are not in use by any application modules.

For users of Storage Foundation for Oracle RAC, it is necessary to stop the Oracle RAC instance within the domain being reconfigured if VCS must be stopped. This permits communications among other RAC instances to occur while the instance in the one domain is temporarily stopped.

See Scenarios requiring a VCS shutdown.

See Stopping and starting VCS.

Boards with I/O controllers can be dynamically reconfigured as long as you use VxVM with the Dynamic Multi-Pathing (DMP) feature to manage the shared storage.

The Solaris dynamic reconfiguration utility enables you to reconfigure the resources of system boards so that the boards can be replaced without system downtime.

In such cases, before you can physically remove a board, you must "detach" it, or reconfigure it such that its resources can be disabled and removed from the domain configuration. Likewise, after you have physically replaced a board in a domain, you must "attach" it, or reconfigure it into the domain.

The Oracle documentation for dynamic reconfiguration contains comprehensive descriptions of procedures and commands. To avoid damaging system boards and components, you should be familiar with the procedures for their removal and replacement.